Polygamy

A chance for the wives to rebel

And a fear that their prophet may become a martyr

SO WILL there in future be fewer pictures of smiling American patriarchs with their half-dozen pretty young wives? That is possible, but far from certain, now that Warren Jeffs, the leader and “prophet” of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the largest polygamist sect in North America, is in jail facing trial in Utah.

Mr Jeffs has been on the run for more than a year after being charged in both Arizona and Utah, and was recently put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. He was arrested north of Las Vegas on August 28th on a traffic violation, from where he was sent to Utah. Utah has a stronger case against him than Arizona; he has been indicted there for the first-degree felony of being an accomplice to rape in connection with the arranged marriage of an under-age girl to an older man.

Mr Jeffs has ruled the FLDS from Colorado City and Hildale, two tiny towns on the borders of Arizona and Utah, since his father Rulon died aged 98 in 2002. The sect broke away from the Mormon church more than a century ago when the mainstream church renounced polygamy. It is believed to have more than 10,000 members, mainly in Arizona and Utah, but also a growing number in Texas, Florida and, for some reason, British Columbia.

Benjamin Bistline, the author of “Colorado City Polygamists”, says that Mr Jeffs had threatened families and dismantled them (boys are said to have been expelled from the FLDS community so that older members face less competition in winning their young wives). “People fear losing their families, and for no crime,” he says. “It's best that he is put away.”

The sect's future is uncertain. Gary Engels, a state investigator in Arizona, hopes that the images of a frail and skinny 50-year-old Mr Jeffs on trial may damage his formidable image, perhaps persuading some of the wives to testify against him. FLDS leaders preach that obedience is the only passage to heaven and this, to date, has deterred women from coming forward. The American media's relentless coverage of the arrest may also help. When CNN aired its “Polygamist Brides” documentary last week, one woman mentioned giving evidence against Mr Jeffs.

Even so, most people remain cautious. Like many others, Ross Chatwin, a building contractor and former sect member, remains in Colorado City with his wife and children. He says that ex-members, who have been fighting for some time to get back property seized by the FLDS, feel a little more hopeful. But current members are angry. Drivers in the town are more aggressive and heckling is loud.

Mr Chatwin worries whether the state has sufficient evidence to hold Mr Jeffs. The length of the sentence is what matters. If it is two years, Mr Jeffs will lose nobody. In ten years, everyone will be gone. But if he is hurt in prison, riots in his defence are likely. He could well become a Christ-like martyr figure, warns Mr Chatwin. “Because former members helped bring him down, we'd all have to leave, and fast.”

For now, most agree that the compound in Colorado City will continue with “bishops” operating in Mr Jeffs's name. A 1953 police raid against the FLDS strengthened the faith of members and so, it is feared, will Mr Jeffs's arrest. If new strong leaders come in, the sect may flourish. Mr Bistline muses on the parable of the tiny mustard seed: “The man scatters the seeds and a mustard tree grows.”